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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

DJANGO VORIS - CONSTANTOPOLIS

Following
his debut album and his notable collaborations with electronic improvisation
group Fates, composer Django Voris releases this, his second full-length,
Constantopolis, on 100m Records.

Born and
raised in the deserts of Arizona, Voris found himself adept at learning new
instruments from a young age. After acquiring skills in a handful of wind and
brass (trumpet, trombone, flute, saxophone), and adding the guitar to his
repertoire, he finally settled on piano as his instrument of choice. On his
debut album, The Strange Particle, released in 2010, Voris combined his
multi-instrumental abilities with a longtime passion for computing (he learned
CBASIC as a child on his grandfather’s old portable Osborne 1). By utilizing
samples and field recordings through his own computed processes he achieved a
very modern multiple-format approach to music, where any sound source was an
instrument. Ink 19 described it like this: "As
I’m listening to this saucer full of electronic secrets, one thought sticks in
my head: “This sounds like some sort of avant-garde soundtrack” ...odd noises
and children’s toys take us on an amazing journey." The album gained Voris
critical acclaim for his composition and recording methods, and won him erudite
radio support in the US and the UK.

On
Constantopolis, Voris has changed tack, working almost exclusively with
acoustic instruments and live arrangements. Pinned on the rhythm section of
bassist Jason Connelly and drummer Kelly Burns (Band Of Susans), the songs
bloomed into near orchestral arrangements in the vein of artists like Rufus
Wainwright and Sebastian Tellier.

Voris
takes credit for recruiting a line-up of exemplary collaborators. Foremost is
Seth Garrison (The Fancy, Night Cadet) who contibuted his exquisite voice and
synths to the project. Garrison assisted with arrangements and production
duties along with Voris and 100m Records’ PJ Norman, who also added his
distinctive lead guitar to the track ‘X’.

Strings
were provided by composer Barret Anspach (viola) and violinist Erica Dicker
(Till By Turning, I’m In You, Anthony Braxton Quartet). Brass was performed by
trumpeter Veronica Gonzalez and trombonist Gordon Barlow, and the stunning
bassoon parts were laid down by Katherine Young (The Fancy, Anthony Braxton
Quartet).

Where
the focus of The Strange Particle was more on experimental programming, the
structured approach of his latest effort draws a greater attention to Voris’
considerable song-writing skils. The songs elaborate on the catchy, ironic
humor only hinted at on his debut, and cement his position as an artist of note
and a songwriter of significant depth.

Constantopolis
was recorded by Don Piper at Between The Trains, mixed by PJ Norman at
Saltmines, and mastered by Warren Russell-Smith at The Magic Shop.